Herpangina, also called mouth blisters, is the name of a painful mouth infection caused by coxsackieviruses. Usually, herpangina is produced by one particular strain of coxsackie virus A (and the term “herpangina virus” refers to coxsackievirus A)[1] but it can also be caused by coxsackievirus B or echoviruses.[2] It is most common in children, and very contagious.
It is common in Taiwan.[3]
It is most common in summer.[4]
It was first characterized in 1920.[5]
Clinical features
Most commonly affects infants and young children
Typically occurs during the summer
Typically spreads via the fecal-oral route or via the respiratory droplets.
[edit]Symptoms
Mild and short in duration (no more than 1 week)
Sore throat and difficulty swallowing
High fever
Referred ear pain, especially when swallowing
Small vesicular or punctuate lesions with white base on posterior soft palate near uvula and anterior fauces of the tonsils.
A diagnosis can be made from clinical signs and symptoms, and treatment consists of minimizing the discomfort of symptoms.
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